No more AWD?

[jrhaines2]

Am going to trade up from my 07 Denali and it looks like AWD is no longer available.Was the change in 2015?

[SS502]

1 hour ago, jrhaines2 said:

Am going to trade up from my 07 Denali and it looks like AWD is no longer available.Was the change in 2015?

From my owners manual (2018), AWD is applied as needed if you're in AUTO:

 

If equipped, use the transfer case

knob next to the steering wheel to

shift into and out of four-wheel drive.

All of the lights will blink on then off

momentarily when the ignition is

turned on. The light that remains on

will indicate the state of the

transfer case.

If the indicator mark on the switch

does not match up with the light

then that likely means the switch

was moved when the ignition

was off.

The indicator mark on the switch

must line up with the indicator light

before a shift can be commanded.

To command a shift rotate the

transfer case switch to the new

desired position. The light will blink

meaning that the shift is in progress.

When the shift is completed the new

position will be illuminated. If the

transfer case can not complete a

shift command, it will go back to its

last chosen setting.

The settings are:

N (Neutral) : Use only when the

vehicle needs to be towed. See

Recreational Vehicle Towing 0 430

or Towing the Vehicle 0 430.

2 m (Two-Wheel Drive High) : Use

for driving on most streets and

highways. The front axle is not

engaged. This setting provides the

best fuel economy.

AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel

Drive) : Use when road surface

traction conditions are variable.

When driving in AUTO, the front

axle is engaged, and the vehicle's

power is sent to the front and rear wheels automatically based on

driving conditions. This setting

provides slightly lower fuel economy

than 2 m.

Do not use AUTO mode,

if equipped, to park on a steep

grade with poor traction such as ice,

snow, mud, or gravel. In AUTO

mode only the rear wheels will hold

the vehicle from sliding when

parked. If parking on a steep grade,

use 4 m to keep all four wheels

engaged.

4 m (Four-Wheel Drive High) : Use

this position when extra traction is

needed, such as when driving on

snowy or icy roads, when

off-roading, or when plowing snow.

4 n (Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This

setting engages the front axle and

delivers extra torque. Choose 4 n

when driving off-road in deep sand,

deep mud, or deep snow, and while

climbing or descending steep hills

Edited February 22, 2019 by SS502

[jrhaines2]

Thanks for the reply but that is 4wd not to be confused with AWD.

[rah7777777]

Automatic Four Wheel Drive is the AWD you are referring to. 

 

My 2018 has Auto, 2 hi, 4 hi and 4 low. (But when the knob is Auto, the dash actually says AWD on the screen)

 

In Auto it sends power to the front at all times and regulates what wheels gets power. it doesnt lock anything like the 4 lo or 4 hi. 

 

I LOVE it in the rain! Take a corner and punch it and you just go, no slipping or sliding. 

[SS502]

3 minutes ago, rah7777777 said:

Automatic Four Wheel Drive is the AWD you are referring to. 

 

My 2018 has Auto, 2 hi, 4 hi and 4 low. (But when the knob is Auto, the dash actually says AWD on the screen)

 

In Auto it sends power to the front at all times and regulates what wheels gets power. it doesnt lock anything like the 4 lo or 4 hi. 

 

I LOVE it in the rain! Take a corner and punch it and you just go, no slipping or sliding. 

Exactly...4 high and 4 low are the true 4WD and Auto is the AWD

[jrhaines2]

An AWD system employs a front, rear and center differential to power all of the wheels. Sensors in those wheels take hundreds of readings per second. These sensors monitor each wheel's traction and the center differential increases and decreases power to each wheel as needed. This allows for fantastic control in all sorts of weather conditions and doesn't hinder your maneuverability.

 

At low speeds, AWD isn't as robust, so don't expect that raw power you'd get from 4WD. The same goes for pure towing power, which is why you mainly see AWD systems on cars and crossovers, not big trucks and SUVs.

 

Another difference between 4WD and AWD is that 4WD can be switched on and off. AWD is always on, so if you're seeking out top-tier fuel efficiency, then AWD might not be the best route to go. On the other hand, there are advantages to always having AWD engaged. AWD's ability to instantly adapt to changing road conditions, like ice and snow, without having to flip a switch takes human forgetfulness out of the equation. It's a much safer way to drive.

 

I will also add that an AWD vehicle does not have low range. 

[SS502]

I digress...and stand corrected

Edited February 22, 2019 by SS502

[jrhaines2]

Yes my 07 has AWD and is always on and I was looking at 15's and newer and seen the selector.I had an 02 and 07 Denali with AWD and AWD was only available on the Denali version  with no other options available as far as AWD or selectable  4WD.

[damnthetorpedoes]

53 minutes ago, SS502 said:

I digress...geez

I also came from a 07 Denali with AWD. They did away with AWD in the K2 trucks and SUV's. The "AUTO" setting says it is AWD but it is a completely different system if you are familiar with a true AWD vehicle. 

[aseibel]

yes, they are different systems, but designed to use in the same conditions: Any time the road has less traction than a clear dry road, but you don't need 4x4.

[ammoaddict]

Am going to trade up from my 07 Denali and it looks like AWD is no longer available.Was the change in 2015?

You didn't specify what Denali you are looking at. I just looked at 2 different 2018 Denalis, they were both AWD, a terrain and Acadia. The Yukons and Sierra's are 4wd. So yes you can get an AWD Denali.

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[jrhaines2]

2 minutes ago, ammoaddict said:

You didn't specify what Denali you are looking at. I just looked at 2 different 2018 Denalis, they were both AWD, a terrain and Acadia. The Yukons and Sierra's are 4wd. So yes you can get an AWD Denali.

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They were Yukons.I looked at a 15 and 16 and were both 4wd.

[Mdsjohna]

Both of the trucks you looked at had auto 4. Which is essentially the same as AWD in operation. This is obtained through the use of clutch plates in the transfer case which just happens to be how many AWD systems operate with a clutch.

 

[jrhaines2]

1 hour ago, Mdsjohna said:

Both of the trucks you looked at had auto 4. Which is essentially the same as AWD in operation. This is obtained through the use of clutch plates in the transfer case which just happens to be how many AWD systems operate with a clutch. I think AWD has a differential.Auto 4 is only putting power to the front wheels in the event of traction loss on the rear as I understand.AWD applies power to all 4 wheels evenly until more or less traction is called for on each individual wheel and auto 4 applies power to the front and rear evenly as I understand.

 

 

[ftwhite]

There are lots of different AWD implementations: Quattro, 4matic, xdrive, etc. They all have implementation differences, so there is no single definition of AWD.
In 2007 Denali Yukons, it seems like GM used a NP246 transfer case, and maybe just deleted the selector button? In any case it works by sending up to a 40%/60% power split between front and rear. It didn't have separate clutches for left and right. Sounds like the new Corvette might, and the Acura NSX has. But no trucks thar I know of.

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